Carolina Panthers 2025/2026 Compensatory Picks potential projection

The Panthers could be looking at some comp picks for the 2026 season for the first time in quite a while.

Compensatory selections are always a talking point during the offseason, as every move can have an effect on that formula. Often-times, we see fans asking whether this move or that move will affect the comp picks. So, let’s take a very premature look on the Panthers future outlook on compensatory selections.

As a brief reminder of how comp picks work, the picks a team receives for players is determined by looking at players leaving via unrestricted free agency when their deal expires, and signing a contract with a new team. This is weighed against the unrestricted free agents a team signs that same offseason. Coordinators leaving for promotions also awards the former team comp picks.

2024 moves impacting 2025

There’s virtually no chance Carolina gets any comp picks for the 2025 draft. They traded away Brian Burns, which doesn’t have any affect on the formula used to determine those picks, along with CB Donte Jackson for WR Diontae Johnson. They lost LB Frankie Luvu in free agency which is a bigger deal that could have generated a comp pick, however the signings of guards Robert Hunt and Damian Lewis will likely nullify that. Same with DL Yetur Gross-Matos in that regard. The Panthers were very active in free agency and didn’t lose a ton of high end talent via signing contracts elsewhere, as releases don’t factor into that formula.

So, what about 2025? The moves the Panthers make on Thursday’s draft could impact the 2026 NFL Draft as far as comp picks go. So what could that look like?

Draft Picks from 2024 impacting 2025

The Panthers probably won’t see any 2025 comp picks, but their moves this week could potentially angle them for comp picks in 2026. Let’s take a look at potential free agents in 2025 that could factor into this conversation.

• Interior OL Austin Corbett
• WR Diontae Johnson
• QB Andy Dalton
• DE K’Lavon Chaisson
• CB Jaycee Horn

The Panthers COULD be in position to potentially realize some comp picks in 2026, as they have some higher end starters in Corbett, Johnson, and Horn that could potentially leave in free agency. The Panthers still have time to decide on whether they’d like to tag Horn with his 5th year option as a first round pick on a rookie contract, but with both Corbett and Johnson, they could let them walk in free agency next season. The Panthers could end up drafting their next center over Draft week, meaning he might be looking for work in 2025. Diontae Johnson is looking for a long term extension at wide receiver after being traded, a position the Panthers will likely draft early in the 2024 Draft. In addition, they still have Terrace Marshall Jr and Jonathan Mingo as younger players at that position, if either of them really make an impact in 2024, or if the Panthers strike gold with a new rookie, Johnson may not get a chance at an extension. He would then become a free agent in 2025 and the Panthers could see a comp pick as a result of a new juicy contract elsewhere. As far as EDGE Chaisson, if he plays well enough on his cheap contract in 2024, he could be looking at much bigger money elsewhere in 2025, even if it is a position of currently weak depth for Carolina.

I personally would expect Carolina to continue to make moves in free agency in 2025, as they likely won’t fill out their roster completely after the 2024 NFL Draft. That would likely nullify any picks they’d get from any of the above players leaving if they make any bigger name signings like they did this offseason. However, the other large factor is what happens with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, as he can sign somewhere else to be a head coach next season and the Panthers would get a 3rd round comp pick or two just for that. They’d need to replace him, but that’s the name of the game for a young coordinator who garners interest in the offseason, which he has for the last two years.

I don’t necessarily expect the Panthers to be eligible for comp picks (aside from Evero getting a promotion), but its always fun to think about. That “Christmas came early” gift for our mock drafts always makes the offseason a little more fun. Do you think the Panthers will see any comp picks in 2026, Panthers fans?